Speak right at the first lesson. Express yourself!
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Knowing the local language is …
... A need for anyone interested in Vietnam.
... One of the elements in the relocation package for an expatriate, especially for anyone that really wants to build a sound career and life here - knowledge of the local language is key.

SỰ TÍCH QUẢ DƯA HẤU / STORY OF WATER MELON

STORY OF WATER MELON

Mai An Tiem was an adopted son of 17th King
Hung. He was talented and that was why he was highly considered by people and
received many favors from the king. Once he said " Present means worry, gift
means dept" and that provoked his father's anger. In spite of many pieces
of advice from the whole court officials, there was an order that An Tiem and
his family had to be deported to an isolated island in the far, far ocean
without any belongings.Fade came to those unlucky people. An Tiem's
family was left in the island with nothing but a blunt sword, a clay pot and
food that was only enough for them in five days. The wife sunk in sorrows and
sobbed while the husband were releasing her and manly declared that they could
make everything by their hands.Life in remove place was so hard that both
young and adult in the unfortunate family had to catch fish, oyster and also
wild greens to remain life. Later the fruit was out of the season, fish in the
sea could not be caught without net, bird was watchful over the trap. What they
owned at this time was just some wild greens cultivated by the husband.One early morning, An Tiem heard the sounds of
birds in a distance then he just walked out to see the scene but the birds were
frighten and flew high above in confusion and left a small piece of melon with
bright red pulp and black tiny seeds. " It was absolutely good for birds.
It must be the same for Man" he thought " Why don't I do something
with those tiny seeds?" Its fresh and sweet taste seemed to make him
believe that his decision was right. With a blunt sword he ploughed a small
piece of land and sowed it with the seeds.Time passed by; the man now was look happy and
hopeful when travelling his eyes over the verdant and luxuriant plants
sprawling on the sand. All people in the family looked for the coming day that
their lianas bear fruit and the fruit got bigger and bigger... One morning the
family was woke by the sounds of bird. An Tiem came out into the sand and found
one of the melon was half-eaten and showing the bright red color of its pulp.
He brought it home then and cut a small piece to each person in the family. The
melon taste was so good that everyone liked it but the rest of it was only
consumed at noon when they felt that what they had eaten in the morning was
unharmful to them.Thank to this kind of fruit, life in the
island now was much better. Melon was cultivated, harvested season by season.
Every time An Tiem himself also dropped some fruits with his name curved over
their skin into the ocean for the desire of sharing the happiness and looking
for a way to the mainland.Later there were some merchants who got into
the island and asked for exchanging tools as well as food for the kind of fruit
they had picked up in the sea.Hung king somewhat felt regretful that he had
put his son a death until the day he was offered a melon and broken the news
that An Tiem and his family weren't only alive but also cultivated a precious
melon in the island. After that a favor was granted to bring An Tiem and his
family back to the court as an honor to the country.From that time on this kind of fruit -
Watermelon - was commonly planted but it was said that those melons from Nga
Son Island where An Tiem first cultivated it were the best ones.